Welcome Contestants, Judges, and Visitors to what should be one the of the most awesome Commander/EDH experiences ever (only to actually playing the game?). Inspired by the TV show Iron Chef and a spin on it from Dungeons and Dragons the Iron Chef Optimization Challenge – EDH edition is designed to elicit fun, freedom from boredom, expansion of EDH powers, and online friends (don’t call me if stuck on the side of the road).

Judging will comprise of an evaluation of each deck based on four factors, Originality, Power, Elegance, and Usage of the Theme. The maximum score for a factor is 5 and the minimum factor 0, a 0 would be the equivalent to a Refusal to Judge (someone submitted buffalo wings to a risotto contest).

Originality – This category revolves around the usage of cards on decklists/guides online, expected by the judges, used by other contestants, new and interesting combinations of cards, thematics not normally used, etc. This is highly up to the Judge’s ‘opinion’, just like that of players at a local game store or kitchen table.

Power – This category revolves around the ability to win the game, through attrition, sheer beats, combo, alternative win cons, etc. The ability to stop aggro, control, combo, attrition, etc. style decks. The ability to curve out when needed, and to cast its spells. This is also highly up to the Judge’s opinion.

Elegance – This category revolves around the prices of cards used, rules manipulations (i.e. stack shenanigans) that confuse or hinder new players, using cards that represent an oppressive or unfavorable game-state, etc. This is also highly up to the Judge’s opinion.

Use of the Secret Ingredient/Theme – This category revolves around building a deck around the theme, using a General for more than its color identity, running with the theme from a storyline segment, as well as running with the theme from a mechanics segment. Guess what, this is also highly up to the Judge’s opinion.

The Challenge revolves around an unlimited number (we’ll see but 25 seems to be the max) of contestants and 3 to 5 judges, in a simulation that the contestants build a deck revolving around a secret ingredient and the contestants are designing the deck to be the most original, powerful, elegant, and thematic as possible. In short to build a deck that (almost) everyone would say… nice deck!

Entries will comprise of summary of what the deck does, how it synergizes with concepts and themes, the combos, the power, the play style, etc. Please keep it to 1,500 words or less, while there is no minimum please note that if you don’t tell the Judges what your deck does they may not be able to magically figure it out (pun intended). Followed by a decklist comprised of 99-EDH legal cards separated by card super-type (don’t worry about legendary). Each section Summary and Decklist will be covered in Spoiler tags clearly identified with Summary and Decklist. Entries will be submitted via PM to the Chairman (poster of this post) who will reveal them at the end of the submission timeline to the Judges.

The Chairman will receive entrants (via PM) and post their entries (removing their name) upon the scheduled time, and the Judges will give their scorings once they have completed all of the scores. Everyone is encouraged to refrain from speculations, clues, guiding during the cooking period (before the reveal). After the reveal, feel free to post as much as you want.

Judges will have until the completion time to post their scores, if an entrant disagrees with a Judge’s ruling they have the right to dispute (PM the chairman identifying their deck) and respond to the scorings. Please note that opinion is highly a matter of an opinion and a mechanic is a fact of the game, while it’s okay to correct a judge (nicely) about a mechanical discrepancy it isn’t okay to call them a retard because you disagree with them. Since this is anonymous, people shouldn’t take it personally and it should be reflective of the game style differences.

After completion time, the Chairman will reveal the final scores and the builders, awarding a golden card (an image of the card changed via GIMP or Photoshop to be flaunted in the signature) to the 1st place winner, a silver card to the 2nd place winner, and a bronze card to the 3rd place winner.

Chefs, the theme of this challenge is:

GUILD WARS

All Pre-Con EDH decks so far have been 3 color. The theme for this challenge is to brew decks based on the Guilds of Ravnica as if they were to be a new round of decks, paired as Dual Decks for EDH (like Izzet vs Golgari). To this end, Chefs will chose a Guild to represent and a Rav Legend for that guild (from RAV or RTR Block as shown in the picture). To represent the Pre-con side of the challenge, chefs are limited the way Pre-cons are limited:

No more than:* 5 Mythic Rares 20 Rares 30 Uncommons Must have at least 25 Basic Land Reserved list is a factor

*Note: Rarity can be exchanged downward. For example, 3 Mythics and 22 Rares would be acceptable. FTV and other "all cards of a single rarity" (like Timeshifted) sets and specials are excluded, but otherwise the highest printed rarity prevails. Exception is Sol Ring from Vintage Masters was Mythic due to drafting concerns, and remains uncommon for this challenge since that is how it was printed in all Pre-con Commander decks.

Don't forget to tell us in your narrative why your deck is representative of your guild.

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

Although, honestly, if two Chefs had to pair up so each makes a Precon Deck based on the Ravnican guilds, AND had to balance monetary cost, power levels, rarity, etc. between the two decks while also presenting a convincing argument why those two guilds should be paired...THAT would be a challenge.

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

Although, honestly, if two Chefs had to pair up so each makes a Precon Deck based on the Ravnican guilds, AND had to balance monetary cost, power levels, rarity, etc. between the two decks while also presenting a convincing argument why those two guilds should be paired...THAT would be a challenge.

ssshhhhhh they might change the challenge to a more challenging challenge!

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

Although, honestly, if two Chefs had to pair up so each makes a Precon Deck based on the Ravnican guilds, AND had to balance monetary cost, power levels, rarity, etc. between the two decks while also presenting a convincing argument why those two guilds should be paired...THAT would be a challenge.

ssshhhhhh they might change the challenge to a more challenging challenge!

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

Although, honestly, if two Chefs had to pair up so each makes a Precon Deck based on the Ravnican guilds, AND had to balance monetary cost, power levels, rarity, etc. between the two decks while also presenting a convincing argument why those two guilds should be paired...THAT would be a challenge.

ssshhhhhh they might change the challenge to a more challenging challenge!

Sorry, another clarification: what about cards with multiple rarities? For instance, Kokusho has been printed at Rare in Kamigawa, but Mythic Rare in Modern Masters. Are we going with the latest printed rarity?

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

I believe you are correct (see below, emphasis mine) but the honorable chairman should answer that.

Quote:

Chefs will chose a Guild to represent and a Rav Legend for that guild (from RAV or RTR Block as shown in the picture).

Segrus wrote:

Sorry, another clarification: what about cards with multiple rarities? For instance, Kokusho has been printed at Rare in Kamigawa, but Mythic Rare in Modern Masters. Are we going with the latest printed rarity?

Yes, IMO it should be the latest but again the Chairman will have to weigh in.

First, my apologies to all. I planned to post this Monday night, but got called in to work a midnight shift. I had planned to address these issues, but since I posted this morning at hour 19 I was probably too tired and forgot.

Segrus wrote:

For clarification, Chefs are brewing a single deck for the purposes of this competition and not a pair of decks, correct?

Although, honestly, if two Chefs had to pair up so each makes a Precon Deck based on the Ravnican guilds, AND had to balance monetary cost, power levels, rarity, etc. between the two decks while also presenting a convincing argument why those two guilds should be paired...THAT would be a challenge.

One deck, in a notional Pairing - explained in your narrative.

If I were entering, my narrative might begin something like this:

Citizens! I, Supreme Judge Isperia call the Azorius to battle. We will finally bring to heel the lawlessness and abandon of Clan Rakdos. They will not continue to flaunt the laws of the realm and harm our great society. Rakdos, I am coming for you.

<Something about how the deck functions and why it represents Azorius Guild>

<Azorius Decklist>

*Note: First person not required - that's just how I roll.

So tell us about your deck and mention what guild they would be warring with and why.

Segrus wrote:

Sorry, another clarification: what about cards with multiple rarities? For instance, Kokusho has been printed at Rare in Kamigawa, but Mythic Rare in Modern Masters. Are we going with the latest printed rarity?

I'll be doing the rarity check before decks are posted for judging, so if there is a desicrepancy Chefs have time to make any changes before judging (and judges don't have to slog through 1000+ cards checking rarity). So please PM me if you need further clarification.

Wait, maybe I missed something, but does the general count towards its rarity level? That is, if I choose Szadeck, does he eat up one of my 22 rare slots? Or is he independent? This is relevant if the chosen general is a mythic...